UEFA Launches Global Streaming Platform: How the Champions League Broadcast Will Change.

The Champions League Will Start with a Standalone Match

According to The Sun: The owners of the Champions League are launching a new season with a standalone match on Tuesday evening as part of a new £4.5 billion television deal.

SunSport reports that UEFA's new marketing partner, Relevent, has already begun the formal tender process for the 2027-28 season.

The Champions League will start the next season with a standalone match on Tuesday eveningREUTERS/Denis Balibouse This is part of the new £4.5 billion TV dealFranco Romano

Details of the New TV Deal

Full details of bids for broadcasters, including a global streaming platform for matches on Tuesday in every round leading to the semifinals, have also been published.

The auction for the five biggest TV markets – UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain – is expected to start simultaneously.

This will allow streaming giants like Netflix and DAZN to apply for multiple territories.

There will also be a 'global first-pick package' offering rights to one match a week designated for a streamer, rather than a traditional broadcaster, with the application deadline set for November 18.

Changes in the current model mean that the winners of the 2026-27 competition – with the final taking place at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid – will start the next season with a single match on the first day.

The other 17 matches in the first week of the group stage will take place over the next two nights – on Wednesday and Thursday.

The first week will be fully dedicated to Champions League matches, without the other two UEFA tournaments.

The Champions League returns next week on Tuesday after the international break.

Upcoming Matches

Newcastle will host Benfica, Manchester City will play Villarreal, and Arsenal will meet Atletico Madrid at the Emirates.

Chelsea will face Ajax, Tottenham will visit Monaco, and Liverpool will play Eintracht in Germany the next day.

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Among other matches, Real Madrid will meet Juventus at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

The planned update of the Champions League format and the new TV contract opens new opportunities for clubs, viewers, and broadcasters on an international level. The new approach to broadcasting is expected to attract even more attention to this prestigious tournament, encouraging not only increased competitiveness but also providing new financial opportunities for teams. With the introduction of new technologies and streaming platforms, fans will be able to enjoy matches at their convenience and in their preferred format.